Great upheavals produce shock waves that widen cracks in political, economic, and security orders. Sometimes the old orders break. Yet it can be in the power of leaders and peoples to shape the directions of change.
Interpretation
Significant changes can destabilize existing systems, but they also provide opportunities for leaders and people to influence the future.
This quote reflects on how major disruptions in society—such as political revolutions, economic crises, or security challenges—can create weaknesses in the established order. However, it emphasizes that these situations are also moments of potential empowerment, where both leaders and citizens have the ability to steer the course of transformation towards a better future.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about political reforms to emphasize the potential for constructive change.
Whether or not you call it Black Lives Matter, whether or not you put a hashtag in front of it, whether or not you call it the Movement for Black Lives, all of that is irrelevant. Because there was resistance before Black Lives Matter, and there will be resistance after Black Lives Matter.
How much shall I be changed, before I am changed!
One who returns to a place sees it with new eyes. Although the place may not have changed, the viewer inevitably has. For the first time things invisible before become suddenly visible.
We have no choice but to reform this country.
I'm not going to change the world overnight. It's one person at a time, and hopefully they're people in positions of power who can help people get in those roles and really, truly embrace colorblind casting.
It is probably true to say that the largest scope for change still lies in men's attitude to women, and in women's attitude to themselves.
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